Greek Epigraphy in the Classical and Hellenestic Periods

Pre-requisites: Elementary knowledge of the ancient greek language.

Course objectives: Gaining fundamental knowledge of greek epigraphy.

Course description: Greek epigraphy will be examined as the most important auxiliary discipline in attempting to understand greek history of the classical and hellenistic eras. Using concrete examples, the most important types of inscriptions on hard material(rock and metal) will be analyzed : laws, city decrees, royal letters, political/state contracts, honorific decrees, dedications, manumissions, funerary inscriptions. Attention will be put on the reconstruction of inscription texts and specificity of language and style present in epigraphic monuments.

Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to independently work with epigraphic inscriptions.

Literature/Reading:

• B. H. McLean, An Introduction to Greek Epigraphy, Ann Arbor 2002.
• W. Dittenberger, Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum, Leipzig 1915-24
• G. Klaffenbach, Griechische Epigraphik, Göttingen 1957
• A. G. Woodhead, The Study of Greek Inscriptions, Cambridge 1959
• W. Dittenberger, Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae, Leipzig 1903
• R. Meiggs, A Selection of Greek Historical Inscriptions, Oxford 1969.